Mired in a six-game losing streak heading into Saturday and with the Pittsburgh Pirates and defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs hot on their tail, it's fair to wonder if one of baseball's biggest surprises, the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, are losing steam.

And so the Brewers, who have hit .245 as a team since the All-Star break, are expected to be active on the market for bats as the trade deadline looms. One of the options they're exploring is Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

Kinsler, 35, has been a steady bat at the top of the Tigers and Texas Rangers lineups over his decade in the major leagues. The four-time All-Star is slashing .244/.324/.397 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs out of the leadoff spot this season for a Tigers squad that currently sits fourth in the AL Central, 5 1/2 games out of first place, and is seeing ace Justin Verlander draw some suitors.

At the plate, Kinsler would seem to be an upgrade over Jonathan Villar, who's slashing .223/.287/.350 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs and is one of four Brewers to amass 100 strikeouts. Villar also missed time last month with a back injury.

-- Brendan C. Hall